Glass feeder apparatus



Sept. 20, 1932. K. E. PElLE R ET AL GLASS FEEDER APPARATUS Filed June 5, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 III I! Invenfiomgj Karl E. P8119? W?! Sept. 20, 1932- K. E. PEILER ET AL GLASS FEEDER APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 3, 1929 1 s 3%? in ym w UEm fi mfla A kfi Witness Sept. 20, 1932- K. E. PEILER ET AL GLASS FEEDER APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Shet 3 Filed June 3. 1929 fnveizamz- KP] E. Flier I Patented Sept. 20, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KARL E. PEILER, OF WEST HARTFORD, AND WILLIAM T. BARKER, JR., OF HARTFORD,

GONNECTICUT, ASSIGNORS TO HARTFORD-EMPIRE I NECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CON- GLASS FEEDER 'All-IPARAT'U'S Application filed June 3, 1929. Serial No. 867,975.-

Our invention relates to the feeding of molten'glass in mold charges of controllable weight and shape and severed while in suspension belowa discharge outlet of a contain- 'er for a supply of the molten glass. More specifically described, the invention relates to the feeding of mold charges by the use of automatic feeding apparatus of .the type known in the art as the Hartford single feederl, a'disclosure of which may be found in the Hartford-Empire Companys British Patent No. 227,078 of June 11, 1924;.

An automatic feeding apparatus of the type above mentioned includes a plunger v which is reciprocated in the glass in the con- 1y retarded, stopped or reversed by the upstroke of the plunger. The plunger reciprocations'are controlled by cam actuated operating mechanism which is provided with adjustments whereby either the lower limit or J the upper, limit of the plunger strokes may be varied during the operation of the plunger or both the lower and upper limits of such plunger strokes maybe varied. A change of the lower limit of the plunger stroke may be employed to change the shape of the suspended mold charges assuming constant frequency of severance of such mold charges, without any appreciable change; of weight of such charges while a change of the upper limit only of the plunger strokes will effect a change of prove an automatic feeding apparatus of the I type f d t by providing further adjustments for the plunger operating mechanism whereby more extensive adjustments of either weight or shape or both weight and shape of the charges may be obtained without interruption of the operating movements of the plunger and without a changeof the plunger actuating cam.

A further object of the invention is a provision in afeeding apparatus of the type de-. scribed of an improved arrangement for ad'- justing the plunger operating mechanism so as to vary selected individual plunger reciprocations for the formation of mold charges of each of successive series which are repeated in cyclic order so that series of charges, each having a weight and/or shape separately mg in cyclic order.

Other objects and advantages of the inven tion will be apparent from the following description, when it is considered 'in conjunction with the accompanying. drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view, with portions broken away or omitted and with other portions in horizontalsection, showing the plunger operating mechanism and associate parts of an automatic feeder equipped with improvements embodying the present invention;

Fig; 2 is a view, generally in elevation but partly in vertical section, showing the plunger operating mechanism and improved adjusting means therefor, according to the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a somewhatrdiagrammatic plan view of the feeder having improved plunger operating and adjusting means according to the present invention in association with a rotary mold carrying table of a forming ma chine and with timing mechanism arranged to be actuated byadjustable cams on the mold table to regulably control the operations of the improved mechanism -for adjusting the plunger mechanism of the feeder, and

Fig. 4 is a somewhat. diagrammatic side elevation of the-structure shown in Fig. 3, with one ofthe cam supporting and adjusting parts on the mold table as shown in vertical section. v i 4 .Generally described, the invention contemplates the provision of a toggle mechanism in lieuof a rigid generally vertical link of the plunger operating mechanism of the usual ulable within wide ranges, may be produced duced for different strokes of the plunger and a series of different toggle adjustments and consequently plunger reciprocations .of

different weight regulating and/or charge shaping effects may be repeated in cyclic order. Series of charges of difierent weight or shape or weight and shape thus may be obtained in cyclic order and repeated until further adjustments of the time and/or character of the operation or operations of one or more of the actuating devices of the toggle adjusting mechanism or of the charge regulating parts of the feeder have been effected.

Timing mechanism is provided for independently controlling the respective adjustments of the toggle for the charges of each ofsuccessive series and for co-ordinating such ad- 'justments'with the operations of the associate v glassware fabricating machine with which the operations of the charge feeding parts of the. feeder .are co-ordinated.

Referring now to the drawings, we show in Fig. 1 a glass feeding forehearth 1 which may be appurtenant toa melting tank or furnace, not shown. The forehearth has a spout 2 provided with a discharge outlet in its bottom which will be constantly submerged by molten glass from the melting tank or fur-.

nace. A plunger 3 of refractory material depends from above into the forehearth 1 and is reciprocable in working alignment with the aforesaid discharge outlet. ,The lunger 3 is carried by a vertically reciproca le substantially horizontal carrier 4: which may be supported intermediate its length on a bracket 5, Fig. 2, so as to be-capable of angular adjustment about an upright post 6 on such bracket. The bracket 5 is provided at its opposite ends with depending guide rods 7 and 8, respectively, which slide through vertically apertured guide portions of the frame structure of the forehearth as the bracket is reciprocated vertically by means which will be presently described. The guide member 8 projects vertically. above the bracket 5 and is connected by adjusting and fastening mechanism, generally indicatedat 9, with the adjacent end of; the plunger carrying arm 4'. The specific plunger supporting and operating parts together with adjustments and advantages thereof are fully disclosed in the aforesaid British Patent No. 227,078.

shaft 11 which may be driven from the motor i 12, Figs. 3 and 4. A .c'am roll 13 on an arm 14 that is mounted on a fixed pivot 15 is connected by a rigid link 16 with a horizontal pivot element 17. The pivot element-17 may be adjusted along an arcuate slot 18 in one of the members 19 of a compound lever 20 by means of the adjusting screw 21. The compound lever 20 comprises in addition to the member 19 a' member 22, both of said lever members being pivoted in a horizontal pivot element 23. i The lever member 22 carries an adjusting screw 24 which bears against an the lever member 19, whereby the power a plying end of the lever member '22 may e raised or lowered independently of movement of the lever member'19. Thelpower applying endof themember 22 pf the compound lever, in the type of feeder'shown in the British patent above referred to, is connected with-the bracket 5 by, a substantially vertical rigid link, whereby each rotation of the cam 10 will ,80 abutment 25 on the adjacent end portion of cause a reciprocation of the plunger'3. In.

the usual plunger operating mechanism, the

slot 18 is struck by a radius about the axis ofthe cam supporting shaft -11 when the.

plunger is at the lower end of its stroke so that adjustment of the pivot 17 along" the slot 18 will vary the amplitude of the reciprocation of the plunger and therefore the upper limit of such reciprocation without varying the lower limit 0 the plunger stroke. This. ad-

justment will effect a change of weight of the charges as distinguished from a change of shape. The lower limit of the plunger stroke may be adjusted by turning the' screw 24 to adjust the angular relation between the members '19 and 22 of the compound lever 20 and thereby to adjust vertically the position of the entire path of reciprocation of the plunger without changing the amplitude of such reciprocation. A change of the lower limit of the plunger stroke is particularly effective to change the shape of the suspended charges. Consequently, it is apparent that by suitable manipulations of the adjusting mechanism just described, either the shape or weight or both weight and shape of the mold charges may be adjusted within limits.

The feeding apparatus includes a pair of cooperative shear blades 26 mounted on pivoted arms 27 Fig. 1, arranged to be actuated by a cam 28 through the motion transmitting mechanism 29 so that the shear blades will be closed to sever suspended mold harges below thefeecler outlet in timed relatio to the reciprocations'of the plunger and with constant frequency.-

With the construction just described, pre-' determined regulably controlled shape and weight of the charges will be maintained after each adjustment of the plungeroperat:

a horizontal pivot element 32 while the upper toggle member 31 is connected with the bracket 5 by a horizontal pivot element 33 and the adjacent ends of the toggle members 30 and 31 are connected by'the horizontal pivot element 34. This horizontal pivot element 34 is connected by a link 35 with a block lever 36 which is fulcrumed on the horizontal ivot element 37 The toggle is bent toward the block 36 and a depending projection 38 at the lower end of the upper toggle member 31'is adapted to engage with a portion of the lower toggle member 30 when the toggle members are disposed in a substantially vertical line so as to prevent bending of the toggle past such straight line and in the opposite direction. Swinging movementof the block lever 36 about its supporting pivot 37-will transmit motion through the link 35 to the pivot element between the toggle members 30 and 31 so that the angular relation between such members and therefore the effective length of the toggle link between the compound lever 20 and the bracket 5 will be varied. When the effective length of the toggle link is increased,

the position of the path of reciprocation of the plunger will be raised while lessening-of the position of the path of'reciprocation of the plunger. Should the increase of length of the toggle be efi'ected after the upstroke of the plungerhas commenced, it is obvious that only the upper limit of such upstroke will be changed and this will have the efi'ect of increasing the weight of the succeeding mold charge. Should such lengthening of the toggle take place at the be 'nning or during an early part of the upstro e of the plunger, the characteristics of the upstroke of the plunger may likewise be changed so that a change of shape of the succeeding mold charge will be effected. Should the increase of length of the toggle be eiiected during a portion of the upstroke which is not effective to retract or retard discharge of glass through the outlet, the change of weight will be effected with a minimum of shape change. Decrease of the effective length of the toggle likewise will cause a change of weight or shape orboth weight and shape which may be controlled both as to extent and character by regulation of the extent of the decrease of length of the toggle and the time in the cycle of reciprocation of the plungerat which said decrease is initiated. The speeds at which the changes of thelength of the toggle are eifected with relation to the speeds of the cam actuated .reciprocations of the plunger also may have a bearing on the extent and character of the weight or shape or'weight and shape variations of the charges. The improved toggle templates suitable regulation of the speed of adjustment of the toggle. v

To these ends, the block 36 may be provided with a plurality of sim lar bores or sockets 39 which open through the top of such block and constitute slideways for vertically adjustable contact sections 40 of the block lever. Such contact sections have suitable contact portions or elements. shown as rollers 41, at their upper ends.- Each of the vertically adjustable sections 40 may be adjusted along its slideway 39 and supported therein byv an adjusting screw 42, a stop projection 43 being pro'vided'at the lower end of each member 40 for engaging with a stop shoulder 44 at the interior of the slideway to limit the upward movement. of the slide member 40 in its slideway. In the particular embodiment of the invention that is illustrated in the drawings, the block lever 36 is provided with three of the members 40. The roller 41. at the upper end of each of such members is in con tact with the lower end of a central power. applying projection 0I' 'I'Od 45 that depends the effective length of the toggle will lower f rom a piston 46 in a cylinder 47 that is mounted above the corresponding slideway- 39 in the block 36. The cylinders 47 may be secured to a suitable bracket or portion of the frame structure of the forehearth, as in lably controlled. A spring 50 connects the.

toggle pivot 34 With a stationary part and tends to maintain the block lever 36 at theupper limit of. its swinging movement.

Each of the pistons 46 and'a portion of its stem 45 may be hollow to provide a pocket for the reception of a compression spring 51 which bears at its upper end against the upper cylinder head and at its lower end against the bottomof'the pocketsov as to maintain the lower end of the piston rod continuously against the roller 41 at the upper end of the associate slide. member 40. The spring 50 will tend to maintain the block as. raised and thus will tend to return the pistons 46 toward the upper ends of their cylinders 47 after. such pistons have been forced downwardly, as by means of pressure fluid admitted to the upper endof a cylinder through supplyand exhaust pipes 52. The weight of. the plunger "and its supporting mechanism also will tend during downstrokes of the plunger to return the pistons-toward their upper positions until the stop 48 contacts with the member 49.

. Each cylinder may be provided with an opening 53 adjacent to its lower end to allow the escape of air from-below the piston 46 as such piston moves downward and.such opening or 'a pipe 54 secured therein may be provided with suitable means,isuch as a bleeder valve,

whereby the .rate of escape of air from below the piston may be regulated to regulate'thespeed of downward movement of such piston.

The pressure supply and exhaust pipes 52 likewise may be provided with bleeder valves,

.not shown, or suitable means for use in regulating the speed of movement of the pistons 46 in the cylinders 47 It also: is obvious that, if desired, means may be connected with the pipes 54 so that pressure may be positively appliedto the spaces below the pistons 46 in t 4 ders atthe propertimes, although such pres.-

sure ap lying means ordinarily will not be require I I Referring now particularly .to Figs. 3 and 4, it will be noted that'each of the pipes 52 is connected'with an individual valve, the respective valves'being indlcated at 55, 56 and 5 one of such valves being shown in see- I tion in Fig. 3. Each of these valves controls the application and exhaustof pressure fluid to and from one of the pipes '52 leading to the up r end ofone of the cylinders 47. v

gitable timin mechanism is provided ior regulably contro ling the times of actuation of the respective valves according to particu lar requirements at any given time. The parf ticular valve actuating'timing mechanism illustrated in the drawings comprises an in vdividual cam 58 for each of the valves, such.

cam being carried by a rotary mold carrying table 59 so as to periphery of such table with relation to a.

mold 60 on that table. Such adjust'ability may be secured-by disposing the cam 58 on a stem 61 which may be secured in any one of a plurality of openings 62 in arcuate outer portion 0 a supporting plate 63 that is secured adjustably by the slot and bolt arrangev and each adapted to. receive a. mold charge tion of the table 59. The ta as provided with four molds spaced uniment indicated at 64, to the peripheral porle is shown formly about the axis of rotation of the table from the feeder. The rotatiton of the table 59 is synchronized with the operations of the e cylinders to aid in raising such pistons in their cyhnj e adjustable around a;

glass char e feeding apparatus and this may 59 and three pneumatic. toggle adjusting mechanisms, as described, the stop screw 48 is-adjusted so thatthetoggle will be of the requisite length for the roduction of a mold charge of a given w'eig t, the shape. of such charge being predetermined primarily by the adjustment of the other shape control ling part's of the feeder. This charge, for convenience of explanation, may be termed the base weight and shape charge and such charge is of the requiredweight and shape to fit one of the molds on the table 59. As-

suming that each of the remaining molds has a cavity of a difierent size and/or shape from that of the mold for the base weight charge, appropriate mold charges for such difierent molds may be obtained by adjusting the respective contact sections 40 of the lever 36 'in their respective slideways 39 and/or by timing the actuations 6f the valves '55, 56 and 57 with respect to the times of beginning of the reciprocations of the glass discharge regulating plunger for-producing the respective charges for these molds. The

cams 58 and the stems of the respective valves 55, 56 and 57 are arranged at different levels'so that each of such cams will contact only with the stem of its associate valve. For example, -the cam 58 for the valve 56 is shown in Fig.3 as actuating the stem of that valve. Each time a cam 58 contacts with the stem of its, associate valve, such valve will be opened against spring pressure, as shown rm Fig. 3, to

permit pressure fluid to enter the upper en of the associate cylinder 47 and to force the piston 46 downward in such cylinder, thereby swinging the block lever 36 downward to an extent that will vary according to the position in its slideway 39 of the contact section 40 with which that particular iston -46 cooperates whereby the length 0 the toggle link will be increasedto a regulable extent and the succeeding orv concurrent upstroke of the glass discharge regulating plunger will be altered. As soon as the cam 58 disengages the stem of its valves 55, 56 or 57, pressure is'permitted to exhaust from the associate cylinder 47 and as soon 1 as the movementof the plu ger'and its operating mechanism will per it, the spring 50 will return the block lever. 36 and the piston 46 upwardly to an extent which is limited by the adjustable bolt screw 48. The adjustments'of the sections 40 in the slideways of the block lever 36 are mainly relied on to regulating plunger for the mold charges which are to be varied or bycombinations of such timing adjustments with the weight regulating adjustments of the sections of the lever. 36. Thus, it is obvious that by the use of various combinations of weight and/ or shape regulating adjustments .which have been hereinbefore described, mold charges of practically any desired useful weight or. shape may be obtained and that'all of such adjustments may be used during the con-- tinued operation of the feeder so that the progressive effects of such adjustments may be noted. After the adjustments for a series of mold charges of predetermined different weights or shapes or weight and shapes have been made, such series of charges will be automatically obtained in a cyclic order until further adjustments have been effected.

tion illustrated in the drawings and herein described may be modified in many respects and the features of the invention also mav be modified to. adapt the invention to differ ent uses or different conditions of service, without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention, as set out in the appended claims.-

No claim herein is sufficiently broad or generictoI read on the specifically different improved mechanism for adjusting or altering the plunger operating mechanism of the automatic glass feeding apparatus of the copending application of' Clyde. Nagle and Chester B. Hoopes, Ser. No. 393,988, filed September 20, 1929, for apparatus for feeding glass charges, owned by the assignee of the present application, as such features of improvement as are common to said Nagle and Hoopes application and the present application are the prior invention-of said Nagle and Hoopes and are disclosed and claimed in their aforesaid application.

d We claim:

1. In apparatus for feeding molten glass in mold charges, the combination with a movable glass discharge. regulating implement of mechanism including 'atoggle joint for reciprocating said implementjto periodically vary the discharge of. glass, and a plurality of independently operable devices for altering said toggle joint to vary difierent strokes of the implement in cyclic order.

I 2. Inapparatus for feeding molten glass in mold charges, the combination witha reciprocable glass discharge regulating implement, a mechanism for reciprocating said implement, said mechanism including a toggle joint, and a plurality of pneumatically operated devices for altering the toggle j oint for different reciprocations of the implement.

3. In apparatus for feeding molten glass in mold charges, the combination with a reciprocable discharge regulating implement, of mechanism for'reciprocating'the implement, said mechanism including a toggle joint, a plurality ofdevices independently operable to alterthe toggle joint .to vary different reciprocations of the implement in cyclic order, and means for adj ustingsaid de-' vices to vary'independently the extent of the alterations of said different reciprocations of the implement.

4. In apparatus for feeding molten glass in mold charges, the combination with a reciprocable' discharge regulating implement, of mecminism for reciprocating the implement, said mechanism including a, toggle ]oint,a plurality of independently operable devices for altering the toggle joint to vary different strokes of the implement in cyclic order, and means for variably timing the "respective alterations of said toggle joint'by The particular embodiment of the nvensaid devices with relation to the corresponding reciprocations of said implement. .5. In apparatus-for feeding molten glass in mold charges, the combination with a reciprocable glass discharge regulating imple ment, of mechanism for reciprocating said implement, said mechanism including a toggle oint, a plurality ofindependently controllable devices, each operable to alter saidv toggle joint to a regulable extent, and timing means for-controlling the relative times of operation of said toggle altering devices and for co-ordinating'such operations with the operations of a machine for fabricating into ing apparatus.

6. In'apparatus for feeding lmolten glass in mold charges, the combination with a reciprocable glass discharge regulating implement of dam actuated mechanism for reciprocati'ng the implement in regular cycles, said glassware the charges of glass from said feed-- 1 cam actuated mechanism including a togglejoint, means, in addition to saidcam actuated mechanism, for altering the effective length of said toggle joint,.and means for timing the operation .of said toggle joint altering means with relation to the time of presentation of amold on an associated glassware fabricating machine at a position to receive a charge of glass from the feeder.

.7. In apparatus for feeding molten glass in mold charges, the combination with a reciprocabl-e glass discharge regulating implement of cam actuated mechanism for reciprocating the implement in regular cycles, said -cam actuated mechanism including a toggle joint, means in addition to said cam actuated mechanism for altering the effective length of said toggle joint, and means for adjusting said toggle-joint altering means to vary the extent'of alteration of the toggle joint by said means.

.8. In apparatus for feedingmolten glass in mold charges of regulably controllable shape and weight, of a reciprocable glass discharge implement, operating mechanism for causing successive reciprocations of said implement, said operating mechanism including a toggle joint, a lever connected to alter said 7 toggle joint, and a plurality of independently.

operable devices for actuating said lever.

9. In apparatus for feeding molten glass in mold charges of regulably controllable shape and weight, of a reciprocable glass discharge implement, operating mechanism for causing successive reciprocations of said implement, sa1d-operat1ng mechanism 1ncluding a toggle joint, a lever connected to alter said toggle joint, aplurality of independently operable devices for actuating said lever, and means for adjusting said devices to independently control the extent of the respective alterations of said toggle joint.

10.' In apparatus for feeding molten glass in mold charges of regulably controllable -and from the outlet, and shears arranged to close periodically beneath the outlet to sever mold charges from said suspended masses, of mechanism for reciprocating said implement in timed relation with the operations of saidshears, said implement reciprocating me'ans including a toggle joint, and a plurality of separate devices connected with said toggle joint and each'operahle to alter said toggle joint to a regulable extent, whereby mold charges of a plurality of difierent weights may be obtained in cyclic order.

12. In glass feeding apparatus, the combination with means for discharging molten glass through an outlet in successive suspended masses of controllable shape, saidmeans including an implement reciprocable toward and from the outlet, and shears arranged to means for independently adjustin close periodically beneath the outlet tosevez".

mold charges from the said suspended masses.

10f mechanism for reciprocating said implement in timed relation with the operations of' said shears, said implement reciprocating means including a toggle joint, and aplurality of separate devices connected with said toggle 'oint' and each-operable to alter said toggle oint to a regulable extent, and means for independently timing the operation of each of said toggle joint altering device s, whereby a plurality of mold charges of difierent weights and/or shapes may be obtained in cyclic order.

13. In glass feeding apparatus, the combination with a reciprocable discharge regulating implement of mechanism for reciprocating said implement, said mechanism including a toggle joint, a lever fulcrumed ad jacent to said toggle joint, a link connecting said lever with said toggle joint, and a lurality of separate pneumatically operate devices, each operable to actuate said lever to alter said toggle joint. a j

14. In glass feeding apparatus,'the combination with a reciprocable discharge regulating implement, of mechanism for reciprocating said implement, said mechanism including a toggle joint, a lever fulcrumed adjacent to said toggle joint, a link connectingsaid lever with said toggle joint, said lever including a plurality of similar slide-- ways and a separate slide member in each of said slideways, each of said slide members having acontact-element at its outer end,

the respective slide members in their sli aways,- a

plurality of pneumatically'operable devices adjacent to said lever, each of said pneumatically operabledevices having a reciprocable stem bearin againstthe contact element of a slide mem er of said lever, whereby opera tion of each said pneumatically operated device will swing said lever to an extent regulable according to the position of the associatevslide member in its slideway, and means for independently controlling the time of operation of eachof said pneumatically operated devices.

15. The combination with apparatus for feeding molten glass in mold charges, said apparatusincluding a reciprocable glass discharge regulating implement and a mechanism including a toggle joint for reci rocating said implement, "of a pluralit o pneumatically operated devices for a tering the toggle joint for different reciprocations of the implement, valves for controlling the ap-.

plication of operating fluid to said pneumatically operated devices, a notary table carrying molds successively presented at a station for receiving chargesfrom the feeding apparatus, and cams carried by the table and adjustable thereon for actuating the valves at times related to the times of presentation of molds on said table at said charge receiving station.

16. Mechanism comprising a toggle joint, a lever fulcrumed adjacent to said toggle joint, a link connecting said lever with said toggle joint, and a plurality of separate pneumatically operated devices, each operable to actuate said lever to alter said toggle joint.

17. Mechanism comprising atoggle joint, a lever fulcrumed adjacent said toggle joint,

a link connecting said lever with said toggle joint, said lever including a plurality of similar slide-Ways and a separate slide member in each of said slide-ways, each of said slide members having a contact element at its outer end, means for independently adjusting the respective slide members in their slide-ways, a plurality of pneumatically operable devices adjacent to said lever, each of said pneumatically operable devices having a reciprocable stem bearing against the contact element of a slide member of said lever, whereby operation of each of said pneumatically operated de vices will swing said lever to an extent regulable according to the position of the associate slide member in its slide-way, and means for independently controlling the time of operation of each of said pneumatically operated devices.

Signedat Hartford, Connecticut, this 31st day of May, 1929.

KARL E. PEILER. v

WILLIAM T. BARKER, JR. 

